Additional Coverage:
- Halle Berry seeks sole custody of son, says ex-husband ‘refuses to co-parent’: Reports (newsbreak.com)
Halle Berry is pursuing sole custody of her son Maceo, alleging that her ex-husband Olivier Martinez has failed to effectively co-parent, as reported by People magazine and Fox News. The Oscar-winning actress filed for sole legal custody last Friday in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. If granted sole custody is not possible, Berry is seeking authority to make all significant decisions regarding Maceo’s education, health, and therapy.
Representatives for both Berry and Martinez have yet to comment on the matter, according to USA TODAY.
Berry and Martinez, who married in July 2013 and separated in October 2015, originally agreed to joint legal and physical custody of Maceo upon finalizing their divorce in August 2023. Under the agreement, Berry was also responsible for a monthly child support payment of $8,000 to Martinez, as well as a percentage of her earnings exceeding $2 million.
In her recent legal filing, Berry criticizes Martinez for his lack of cooperation and claims his behavior negatively affects their son’s education and their personal relationship. Berry alleges that Martinez concentrates more on Maceo’s soccer activities, neglecting his educational and psychological needs. She attributes Maceo’s deteriorating academic and behavioral performances to Martinez’s influence.
Furthermore, Berry contends that after spending prolonged periods with Martinez, Maceo exhibits defiant behavior, including echoing private arguments between Berry and Martinez. According to their custody arrangement, both parents were instructed not to speak negatively about each other in the presence of their son or allow others to do so.
Berry argues that Martinez’s uncooperative approach to co-parenting disregards the welfare of their son, impeding the progress that could be made towards addressing his needs. She accuses Martinez of making unilateral decisions that should be jointly made, violating their custody agreement.
Martinez’s lawyer has indicated plans to address Berry’s claims in the near future.